Senate is set to ponder voter IDs

Partisan issue will be brought up Monday.

Published 11:17 pm, Thursday, January 20, 2011

Senators will meet Monday to begin considering a voter identification bill — a move sure to start this legislative session with a fierce partisan debate.

The voter ID bill was one of two items declared an emergency Thursday by GOP Gov. Rick Perry, prompting some Democratic leaders in the Texas House to say only the budget should get priority status and they will urge their members not to support a plan next week allowing early debate on bills he has identified as emergencies.

Late Thursday, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst notified senators that he would bring up voter ID on Monday, with Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, presiding over the Senate meeting as a committee of the whole. By doing so, it will allow the Senate to accelerate the process.

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Usually, a bill will go before a committee, which then takes testimony on the issue, followed by debate and then a committee vote taking it to the full Senate.

The goal is for the Senate to vote on the Voter ID bill by the end of the week, said Mike Walz, Dewhurst's spokesman.

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said Dewhurst's office had assured him “we'll have ample opportunity to debate and discuss it,” but added, “It's kind of a foregone conclusion what the outcome is going to be.

“I don't think it should come as a surprise to too many people that they have every intention of passing it. They've got the support and the numbers and the gavel to do so. I will assume it'll be a partisan vote.”

Democratic leaders said putting voter ID on the fast track is another example of Republicans losing focus on more important matters, such as huge, proposed budget cuts that could end up closing community colleges and costing 100,000 education-related jobs.

According to the state comptroller, Texas is facing a two-year budget shortfall of $15 billion. Others put the gap at closer to $27 billion, noting the comptroller's estimate does not take into account the state's population growth when determining the cost of providing the current level of services.

Democrats oppose a scheduled House vote Monday to suspend a constitutional rule prohibiting debate on legislation during the first 60 days of a legislative session. It takes 120 of 150 House members to suspend a constitutional rule. Democrats, who hold 49 House seats, could block the measure.

Lawmakers can debate and approve legislative items in the first 60 days if the governor declares them emergencies. Perry has done that for several issues, including eminent domain and a call to end so-called “sanctuary cities,” in which police don't check for the immigration status of people they stop or arrest.

On Thursday, he added two more emergency issues: a resolution supporting a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution and voter ID.

“Why is voter ID an emergency? Why isn't it more of an emergency to figure out how to make sure kids can still go to college?” Farrar asked.

In his emergency declaration, Perry said it was important for lawmakers to address “these priority issues more quickly.”

“Fiscal discipline, balanced budgets and the integrity of the ballot are critical to the people of Texas,” the governor said.

Democrats have blocked Republican efforts in recent years to pass a voter ID bill. Republicans contend a more secure voting system is needed to make sure ineligible voters don't cast ballots.

Democrats counter that a photo ID-based system only would make it harder for seniors and low income Texans to vote.

“In a state like Texas, where we've had a history of making it difficult for certain groups of people to vote, I think we ought to be very cautious about putting any barriers up that make it more difficult for people to participate in the process,” said Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.

“They're (Republicans) getting a lot of pressure from their base, in part because their base recognizes the changing demographics of Texas,” Ellis said.

“Texans cannot afford to be distracted by either party's political agenda,” he said. “We got a sobering reality (Wednesday) about the magnitude of this budget problem — with 192,000 children losing access to prekindergarten classes; a $1.57 billion cut in nursing home payments and the elimination of four community colleges.”

Democrats will vote to suspend the constitutional order of business only to take up the budget mess early, he said.